Resilient connecter for mine cars



,Huy 8 1924. l.500,151

J. F. O'CQNNOR RESILIENT CONNECTER ma .MINE CARS" Filed Sept. 4, 1923 I /f/ F491 X425 fd Z431 V i. y; Z5 Z7 .L5 I g5 i7 I fi@ fr' M i v /o l Il s l ,435 /4/7 fi/4* I4 l l Patented July" 8, 1924,

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF

CHCAGO, ILLNOIS, ASSGNQR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

W. H. WIENER, ENC., A CO'EPQRATON OE DELAWARE.

RESILENT CONNECTER FOR Iz'NE CARS.

Application filed September 4, 1923.

T0 all whom t may con-cern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. OCoNNon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Resilient Connecters for Mine Cars, 0f which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in resilient connccters for mine cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive resilient connecter or coupling, particularly adapted for mine cars. y

A more specific object of the invention isy to provide a connecter of the character indicated, comprising a resilient loop 4pivotally secured to one end of a mine car adapted to be detachably connected to the adjacentend of another car, wherein the loop is adapted to yield to absorb the shoclrs in both `buff and draft.

@ther objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

ln the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure ,l is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the adjacent ends of two mine cars,` showing my improvements in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1. And Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a different embodiment of the invention.

In said drawing, referring iirst to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each mine car is shown as provided with a suitable heavy flooring and a vertical end wall 11, the flooring 10 being cut away to provide a pocket, as indicated at 12 to better accommodate the connecting or couplingmembers. At the opposite ends, each car is also provided with a drawbar 13. Each drawbar is in the form of an elongated fiat plate extending through the end wall 11 and secured at its inner end to the iooring 10. Adjacent the outer end, each drawbar is provided with a downwardly projecting lug la abutting the end of the iiooring 10. A'bolt 15 extending through the drawbar, the Outer end of the Hoor 10 Serial No. 660,726.

and a transversely extending reinforcing member 16 at the lower side of the wall, is preferably provided to secure the outer end of the drawbar to the car.

vThe resilient connecting or' coupling means proper, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, preferably comprises a spring loop A, and two blocks B and C swiveled to the respective drawbars of the two adjacent cars.

The spring loop A comprises two members 17 and 18, each consisting of a pair of spaced apart parallel arms 19-19 .and a ring shaped section 20. Each of the loop members 17 and 18 is preferably formed from. a flat bar of spring steel bent to proper shape and tempered. rlihe loop member 18 is preferably of such a size as to iit snugly within'the loop member 17, thereby forming, in ede/ct, a single connecting` member. Although the spring loop A is herein shown as composed of two members, it will be evident that the same may comprise one member only or may be made of a plurality of such members.

rEhe blocks B- and C are each provided with a centrally disposed, upwardly projecting, cylindrical stem 21, and the pro* jecting end of each drawbar is provided with an openingl 22 adapted to receive vthe stem of one of the blocks. The stem of each block serves to swivelly connect the saine to the corresponding drawbar, the block being suspended below the drawbar by the stem 21 which projects above the drawbar and has a collar 23 fixed to the upper end thereof, bearing on the upper surface of the drawbar. The collar 23 is preferably secured to the stem by a pin 24 extending therethrough and having the opposite ends thereof upset to retain it in position. Eachvof the blocks B and C is thus swivelly supported, with the upper face thereof in contact with the under surface of the correspond-ing drawbar. To provide proper clearance so that the blocks B and (l will have free swinging movement` each of the same is formed with a curved face 25 adjacent the lug lli of the vcorresponding drawbar 13.

The. block C is preferably connected to the drawbar at the gate end of the car, and the block B- to the drawbar at the opposite end of the car, and the cars are so disposed when coupled that the block B on the end of one car is disposed in opposed relation to the block C of the adj acent car.

The block B is cut away at opposite sides, thereby providing a tongue 26 to which the loop A is pivotally connected by means of a horizontally disposed bolt 27 extending through the parallel arms 19 at the open side of the loop, the arms 19 being disposed on opposite sides of the tongue 26. The loop is thus mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane, and may be dropped out of the way to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 to provide proper clear.- ance when the car is in a restricted space, as when the same is being handled on the mine hoist..

The block C is extended outwardly beyond the end of the drawbar 13 at the gate end of the car and is cut away as indicated at 27, thereby providing a transversely curved slot and an upwardly extending hook member 23. The slot 27 is correspondingly curved to the ring section of the loop and is of slightly greater width than the thickness of the loop so as to freely accommodate the same, and the inner side of the hook member 2S at the upper end thereof is rounded oft1 to properly guide the loop into the slot 27 when the same is engaged with the hook member.

1n draft action, it is evident that, as the cars are pulled apart the spring loop A, being fixed at one end to the bleek Yl and having the opposite end held by the hook member 23 of the bloc-li C, will be elongated, thereby absorbing the shoclrs. 1n a butting action, as the cars approach each other, the loop will be compressed 'against the rear wall of the slot 27, thereby elongating the loop transversely.

Dreferring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, 110 indicates the floor of each mine car, 111, the end wall and 113 the drawbar. The draw bars 113 are in all respects similar to the drawbars illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each being provided with a downwardly extending lug 114 abutting the end of the flooringl 110, and fixed to the car by means of a bolt 115 extending through the drawbar, flooring 110 and a reinforcing member 116.

The resilient connecting or coupling means illustrated in Figure. 3 comprises, broadly, aspring ring member A and a pair of blocks B and C.

The member A is in the form of a continuous ring formed of spring steel, properly tempered. The ring A is pivotally connected to the block B, extending through an eye member 130 at the upper end of the block. Below the eye 130, the block B is provided with an annular flange 131 abutting the upper surface of the corresponding drawbar 113. lThe member B is also provided with a downwardly extending, cylindrical stem 132 extending through an opening 133 formed in the outer end of the drawbar. A collar 13-1 fixed to the lower end of the stem 133 by a transversely extending pin 135 serves to retain the block B on the drawbar 113, the block being thus swivelly mounted. The block C is swiveled on the drawbar 113 at the gate end of the car in a manner similar to the block B, the stem 132 thereof extending through. the opening 133 in the drawbar, being held in position by the collar 13st secured by the pin 135. The block C is directly supported by the drawbar 113, the lower face of the former being in abutment with the upper surface of the drawbar. The block C is also provided with an upwardly opening, transversely extending slot 127 similar' to the slot 27 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and adapted to receive the free end of the ring member A.

It will be evident that the ring A may be swung out of the way in a manner similar to the loop A. of the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the width of the drawbar 113 to which the block B is attached being such that the ring will clear the same when in its lowermost position with the bar extending into the ring.

rlfhe operation of the form shown in F igf ure 3 is in all respects similar to that previously described, the ring 11 being elongated longitudinally in draft and being compressed and elongated transversely in butt'.

1 have herein shown and described what 1. new consider to be the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the saine is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and moditications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. 1n a connecter for mine cars, the combination with a resilient loop; of means for connecting the same to two adjacent cars, comprising a block to which one end of the loop is pivotally connected, and a hook member coacting with the other end of the loop, said block being attached to one of said cars and the hook being attached to the car.

2. In a connecter for mine cars, the combination with a spring loop; of means for connecting said loop to two adjacent cars, comprising a block to which one end of the loop is pivotally connected and a hook eoacting vvith the other end of the loop, said block and hook being swiveled to the respective cars. A

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a spring loop coupling; of means for connecting the loop to two adjacent cars, said loop being adapted to yield to absorb the shocks in both buff and draft.

d. In a device of the character described, the combination with a yielding loop having one end thereof pivotally connected to one end of a car; of means for detachably connecting the opposite end of the loop to the adjacent end of another car, said means abutting the loop interiorly and exteriorly.

5. In a connecter i'or mine cars, the comhination With a coupling including an elastic ring Shaped Section; of means for attaching said coupling to the adjacent ends of two cars.

6. ln a connecter for mine cars, the combination with an elastic coupling havinga bowed section; of means for permanently attachingcg` the same to one car; and means for detachahly connecting,` Said coupling` to another car, said means abuttingthe inner anol outer Sides of Said Section.

7. In a device of the character described,

the combination With a coupling including a spring ringmember; of a block swiveled to one end of a mine car; means for pivotally connect-ing said coupling to said block. to swing in a vertical direction; and ablock Swiveled to the adjacent end of another car, said block being provided With a slot within which a section of' said ring is adapted t0- engage to couple said care.

ln Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto Subscribed my naine this lst day of September, 1923.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. l/Vitnesses:

FRANCES SAVAGE, HARRIETTE M. DEAMER. 

